Tottenham to deal Newcastle a blow with £50m double swoop

Tottenham could deal a blow to Newcastle United in the transfer market as they pursue a double deal for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and Wolves’ Adama Traore, according to reports.

Sky Sports claimed on Wednesday that an unnamed Premier League club had ‘matched’ the Magpies’ offer of €35m for Carlos with the Geordies desperate to improve their defence before the transfer window shuts.

It is understood that Carlos wants to join Newcastle, who have already brought in Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid to shore up their backline, and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms to move to St James’ Park.

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However, it has been suggested that Sevilla are holding out for more than the €35m on the table from Newcastle with the Daily Express claiming yesterday that Newcastle are ‘considering pulling the plug’ on talks ‘due to their lack of progress’.

And now The Sun claim that Tottenham are ‘ready to back Antonio Conte with a £50million swoop’ for Carlos and Wolves winger Traore.

Spurs have ‘entered the race’ for Carlos and Newcastle’s ‘chances of bringing in the Brazilian could be hit now Tottenham have joined the chase’.

Tottenham will also ‘set to make an improved offer’ for Traore with Wolves rejecting their initial £15m bid for the Spain international.

Meanwhile, Steven Bergwijn was delighted to follow Conte’s instructions and deliver a dramatic stoppage-time win for Tottenham at Leicester.

The Holland international scored twice in 79 seconds of time added on to turn Spurs’ 2-1 deficit into a memorable 3-2 victory.

He was sent on in the 78th minute, two minutes after James Maddison had put the Foxes on course for the three points in their first Premier League game of 2022 with a clear instruction from Conte – to score.

Bergwijn, who has been subject of a bid from Ajax in the January transfer window, duly obliged, firing home from close range in the fifth minute of added time and then sparking mad scenes of celebration by rounding Kasper Schmeichel and finding the bottom corner straight from kick-off.

Asked what Conte told him before he went on, Bergwijn explained: “He said, ‘Score and create some difficult moments for the defenders and stay close to Harry’ (Kane) and I did it.

“This is football, this is why we love football, it was a difficult game. It is fantastic, it was a fantastic game, I scored two goals so I am happy.”

Conte has described Bergwijn as an “important” part of his squad even though he has endured a frustrating season.